yacht cruising crew

Yacht Crew Job Board

With Bluewater's expertise in crew training and yacht crew recruitment, finding your ideal yacht crew vacancy is simple. We offer yacht management services to a variety of exclusive superyachts. Our team excels in sourcing top-notch yacht crew positions, spanning from 25-meter private yachts in the Bahamas to 50-metre charter yachts in the Mediterranean to luxurious 100+ metre superyachts navigating the globe extensively.

143 yacht crew jobs available now.

Yacht Crew Training

Alongside sourcing the latest yacht crew jobs worldwide, Bluewater offers a range of specialised yacht crew training courses. Whether you're new to the superyacht industry seeking entry-level qualifications, an experienced deckhand or engineer aiming to advance your career, or a dedicated crew member looking to enhance your resume with certifications like HELM (Human Element Leadership and Management), Yachtmaster, or OOW (Officer of the Watch), explore our comprehensive yacht crew training options.

Working on a Luxury Yacht

Working as a crew member on a superyacht is undeniably one of the most rewarding yet demanding professions, calling for hard work, dedication, and professional training. The opportunities within the yachting industry are vast, and at Bluewater, we are committed to helping every crew member discover their ideal yacht crew position. Our recruitment division focuses on finding the perfect yacht for crew members and provides unparalleled professional support. Our recruitment experts guide crew members through every step of their yachting career journey, ensuring they receive the best possible assistance.

Manage Your Yacht Career

Whether you're seeking a yacht crew position as a deckhand, engineer, onboard masseuse, stewardess, chef, chief stewardess, purser, first officer, or captain, take control of your yacht career. Create a profile and join one of the world's largest yachting communities for free.

143 JOBS FOUND

• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1, Food & Hygiene Level 2
• Experience: 1 to 2 Years
• Salary: 2500EUR
• permanent 5:1
• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1,PDSD,FH2
• Experience: ideally 1 season
• Salary: 2200 euros
• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1, FHL2
• Experience: 1+ years
• Salary: $8000 - 10,000
• Seasonal until end of September
• Qualifications: Seamans book-FHII
• Experience: Similar
• Salary: €3500
• Experience: 2 Years +
• Salary: 4000 to 4500EUR (DOE)
• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1
• Experience: 3 seasons & charter experience
• Salary: 3250-3750 euros
• 6 month contract to start
• Experience: 2 year +
• Salary: 3700 euros
• seasonal position
• Qualifications: STCW95 & ENG1
• Experience: 1-2 years
• Salary: tbc
• Qualifications: Yachtmaster, AEC 1
• Experience: 3 years
• Salary: €3.500 DOE
• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1, Food & Hygiene Level 2, Yacht Rating Certificate (Bonus)
• Salary: 3000 to 4000EUR (DOE)

Super yacht jobs

Find the best yacht jobs and career opportunities

320 open positions

Senior Stew

Rotational chief engineer 65m world cruising, chief engineer 75m new build 2:2, deckhand 50m private charter dual season, chief engineer, chief engineer 2:2, recruitment & management partners.

We listened to feedback from active crew members and agencies, including our own Director, an ETO within the industry, to create a platform that delivers an easy to use system, to aid you in finding your next job, or your next crew member.

Crewin.com was developed with the end user at the forefront of our minds. Our mission is to supply a modern and user friendly job-boards platform, connecting recruiters & crew, enabling more efficient placements and employment.

What we value most, is being able to provide a platform that works for you, every time, all the time, from any device.

Join Crewin today

Whether you are looking for a job, or you are a recruiter looking for crew, we will help you stay on top of it all.

Send us your feedback!

Crewseekers International Yacht Crew Agency

http://crewseekersinternational.com

how it works

How does Crewseekers work?

It's free for yacht owners to post their sailing opportunities, and potential crew members can view all of these published sailing opportunities for free – but to make contact with the yacht owner and to register your details with us you need to join Crewseekers.

Looking for a Sailing Opportunity?

Whether you are looking to:

• Build your experience and sailing miles
• Join local sailing trips with like-minded sailors
• Crew on offshore and ocean sailing passages
• Join racing yacht crews
• Share sailing holidays
• Find professional sailing work 
• Crew on yacht deliveries

We have yacht crewing opportunities available for you.  Simply search through our sailing opportunities to find what you're looking for. 

It’s free to view all of our sailing opportunities.   To make contact with the yacht owner and join their crew, you must register as a member of Crewseekers.  Membership costs from £75 for 6 months and gives you unlimited access to all of our sailing opportunities. Once you have registered you can create your own personal sailing profile and share this with yacht owners when you are applying to join them as crew.

Sailing opportunities are listed with a variety of crew contributions – some are looking for a shared contribution of daily onboard expenses, some are looking for no contribution, some may pay your travel expenses, and then there are professional listings where a fee is paid to the crew – see our feature on Crew Contributions for more information.

Listed on our separate Crewseekers Directory are commercial sailing opportunities – charters, training, holidays, etc. – and you can access all of these without becoming a member.

Find the sailing opportunity you are interested in, contact the yacht owner and express your interest in that sailing opportunity and go sailing!

BROWSE SAILING OPPORTUNITIES   join as crew member

Looking for Crew?

It's free for yacht owners to register and post their sailing opportunities.  

You can use Crewseekers to find amateur and professional crew for all of your short or long term sailing voyages; whether it’s more hands for local sailing, watchkeepers for an offshore voyage, long-term crew for an extended trip, or a professional sailing vacancy we can help.

To post a sailing opportunity, simply upload a boat picture and your text. Your sailing opportunity is checked by us then appears on the website, as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Crewseekers’ members will contact you directly to express interest in your sailing opportunity and to invite you to view their sailing profile. You can post both amateur and professional sailing opportunities, and if you wish you can boost the prominence of your post for a small charge.

Amateur sailing opportunities are accepted on the basis that crew contributions (if any) are for a reasonable share of daily expenses only. For further information on contributions see our article Crew Contributions .

Commercial sailing opportunities, i.e. those that charge a commercial rate for other people to join you aboard, can only be posted on our separate Crewseekers Directory section. 

POST SAILING OPPORTUNITY

Crewseekers acts as an introducer only and does not warrant the skills of skippers or crews, or the suitability of vessels or equipment for any proposed voyages – further information is available in our FAQs and Advice sections.

We are not an employment or crew matching service and we do not operate a database that you can add your CV to for yacht owners to search through. It’s up to the crew to find the sailing opportunity that they are interested in and to reply to the yacht owner to express their interest.

we love sailing as much as you do

Crewseekers is run by experienced, professional sailors offering a friendly and helpful service to yacht crew and owners. We are the original yacht crew introduction agency – established for over 25 years, offering amateur and professional sailing opportunities throughout the world.

Please don’t go

Join today and get 10% OFF Crew Membership

USE THIS VOUCHER CODE CREW10 Type this code into the payment page to obtain your discount

Availability

Bespoke Crew recruitment is all about moving beyond the uniform by identifying and targeting talent to build your ideal crew.

Combining 15 years of industry experience, working on yachts and recruiting has enabled us to have a strengthened understanding of the importance of hiring the right crew, to deliver the ultimate client experience.

Bespoke Crew challenges the industry’s status quo on crew development, covering all aspects from new recruits to the more established crew members. We work in all departments including interior, galley, deck, engineering and any specialist roles you might have. Unlike other agencies, Bespoke Crew isn’t just providing highly qualified and experienced yacht crew, we go further to ensure a match of personalities onboard.

Our pride is taken from your positive experience and the heightened standard of tailored service that we provide.

Looking For Crew?

We will strive to go beyond your expectations, once we have a better understanding of the candidate you are looking for. We will not only make sure they have all the qualifications and experience you require for the specific role, but we will also tailor the candidate’s personality to fit in with your existing crew members.

Looking For A Job?

We not only help the more established crew in the industry secure their next desired position. The bespoke team have all experienced the yachting industry as crew members, we all once got our first position on board. Finding the right agency that will help develop your application, cv and interview skills will really help jumpstart your career.

Latest Jobs

We are looking for a Captain/ Engineer & Stew/Cook couple for a Private 30m Sailing Yacht.

The ideal pair would have worked together on a similar-sized vessel with proven longevity and be comfortable cruising the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and transatlantic crossings.

The yacht will run with a third crew member.

Package for the pair: 10,000 - 12,000 EUR Standard MLC Leave

Please register with us on our website.

Mediterranean

We are currently seeking a strong 2nd Stewardess for this private 45+ Private MY.

Candidates should have 1-2 years+ on a similar sized vessel & have a good knowledge of all aspects of the interior. This position would suit someone that is already a 2nd stew on a similar sized boat but would also consider a well rounded 3rd Stew with strong experience that is looking to step up. Must hold Schengen visa or have the right to work in the EU due to cruising itinerary. Female only due to cabin arrangements.

Start: ASAP Salary: DOE in euros 40 days leave

As always, the Bespoke team was an absolute pleasure to work with. Only sending forward candidates that match your criteria makes the hiring process fast and smooth. Thank you again for finding us a great candidate who is the ideal fit for our team and owner. Bespoke is, for sure, the only agent I would use for any future hiring.

Emma cottrell – chief stewardess., when you work with bespoke crew, you get the same high standards associated with yachting. their industry knowledge, attention to detail for each of their candidate profiles, and their drive to find the best is what yachts need in a recruitment agency., nick calligeros - chief officer, i have worked with bespoke crew for a few years now, from her helping me find positions to helping me fill them. the agents take time to really understand our needs and only send the best candidates forward. they send detailed profiles from their conversations with the crew, which really helps us to get an understanding of the candidate beforehand. they are not a typical agency who puts crew forward and forgets, they still keep in contact and follow up to check both parties are happy with the overall performance and if we have any concerns. fantastic service all around; i would highly recommend using the bespoke crew. thank you for everything, danielle hemming - chief stewardess, bespoke crew's team exhibited an impressive understanding of the yachting industry and a genuine dedication to finding the perfect match for candidates and employers. their attention to detail, personalized approach, and unwavering support throughout the recruitment process were nothing short of outstanding. bespoke crew yachting recruitment is for anyone seeking a professional, reliable, and personalized recruitment experience within the yachting industry., benjamin le marechal - head chef, the team at bespoke has always gone above and beyond to ensure each candidate presented to us not only fills the position but also aligns with our yacht's specific culture and ethos. they constantly demonstrate their passion for the industry and extensive knowledge of their own experiences, and i am always impressed with their unique, professional, yet personalized approach., georgia barber - chief stewardess, i first spoke to jacob from bespoke crew in my first few weeks of dock walking near antibes. the first call was extremely helpful; and he took an interest in my own background, qualifications, and experience. we then discussed the position i applied for in great detail. i am now secure in that role we discussed and after five months in i couldn't be happier with the yacht i am on, and the crew i am with., james lashmar - pt/ deckhand, it has been a great experience dealing with bespoke. excellent communication and a fast turnaround from the initial discussion to being placed on the yacht i am on now., euan ratley - deckhand, it was great dealing with jacob, one of the better agencies out there, tom riley - avit, claire provided such amazing support when looking for a new role. she really took the time to listen to both my previous experience and what i was looking for in the future to find the ideal position. claire’s help enabled me to make the transition from lead service to chief stewardess. i’d absolutely recommend bespoke crew to anyone in the industry., bonnie mitchell – chief stewardess, after working closely with bespoke crew over the past 3 seasons for permanent and temporary crew placement, they have become our go-to agent for crew. we have been highly satisfied with bespoke’s high caliber of service, which has been very professional yet personable. we have found they genuinely listen to and understand the requirements expressed for the crew sought and deliver only highly suitable candidates that meet the specific experience level, necessary skillset, and personal demeanor desired., brianna stenhouse - chief stewardess, i had a fantastic experience working with frankie. she found my cv, reached out to me, and i was successful in landing the first role she presented me with, which she ensured met my needs. she is communicative, friendly, and professional; most importantly, in a recruiter-candidate relationship, she comes across as very honest. when i am ready for my next opportunity, and if i take on any recruitment on board, i know who to call. i look forward to working with frankie again., helena sanguinetti - purser, i had a great experience with claire from bespoke crew she’s super helpful, always checks-in, and answers all of my questions. she helped me land my new role on an amazing yacht with great opportunities. i’m so happy for all of the support, i would love to work together with her again in the future would really recommend bespoke crew., linn sundqvist - stewardess, i had the luck to have claire contact me from bespoke crew recruitment. as a greenie, i heard it would be hard starting in the industry, and only on my second day of searching for a job, claire told me about me three amazing options. one of the yachts got in contact with me, and the next day and everything fell into place. she takes time to get to know you and find the job that would make you happy on all terms. thank you, claire, for sticking by me the trust i have in you is immense., zoé meeuwens - stewardess, this is the first crew agent where we feel listened to and not just sent 10+ candidates that vaguely fit our requirements and with the candidates that we hire through bespoke crew we always get great longevity. we have complete faith and trust in the bespoke crew team, so much so that they are the only crew agent we work with., ruben mejier - chief officer, i have been using bespoke crew for the past few years. they have done a wonderful job and have presented me with first class crew to choose from and have not inundated me with an inbox full of candidates. the backup and follow up also has been exceptional. i highly recommend bespoke and their staff as an excellent choice for crew placement., scott miller - captain, it was such a pleasure working with bespoke crew thank you, claire, for your swift responses and for providing us with good quality crew that fits our specific requirements in a short time frame i look forward to working with them in the future., tina floegal - chief stewardess, i wouldn’t work with any other crew agent. the team at bespoke crew listens to exactly what we require in a candidate and delivers solid, carefully selected, and well-vetted crew. the team has placed multiple candidates across the interior, deck, engineering, and galley. their excellent communication and high level of professionalism, it makes them a joy to work with., savannah squire - chief stewardess, i was first introduced to bespoke crew when i was personally called for a reference check. as we know, the industry is small, and we are all somehow connected by social interaction. checking references, especially verbal references, is of utmost importance when trying to find that “perfect fit” for your yacht. i immediately knew that the friendly, trusted voice on the end was doing their job diligently, trying to find that ‘perfect fit’ for another captain, and i respected that. we have worked closely with bespoke crew for nearly three years and have only positive feedback to contribute to their professional service. most, if not all, the crew has served on a longevity basis, all of whom fit in very well with our crew dynamic. i can highly recommend bespoke crew for your crew placement needs., aldon beukman - captain, bespoke has hands down become my number 1 crew agency. the agents i have worked with have all been extremely responsive and friendly and have made a real effort to build a relationship with you. they truly understand what you are looking for and never try to 'throw anything out there.' with my crazy schedule, they are good about chasing me up when need be and never letting anything fall by the wayside. there is always open, honest transparency, and i appreciate that so much. it is a big relief that there is such a consistent, all-star crew agency out there, brielle crumpler - chief stewardess, it’s been a pleasure dealing with the bespoke crew team ….thank you for discovering the right individuals for our program. we greatly appreciate the care is taken when introducing quality candidates to us and the effort to ensure a good long-term fit., len beck - captain, bespoke crew and their team have been a great help in finding the right people for our island. even though land-based and a very remote location, frankie was able to forward excellent candidates competent for the roles. bespoke crew is very responsive, responsible, and highly reliable. they stand behind their candidates 100%. excellent background checks and written and verbal references were provided. a great database of staff. highly recommended, ana white - general manager - private island in the caribbean, we are the managers in charge of a 25m sailing yacht and used bespoke crew to employ a new captain. frankie at bespoke crew was excellent. she acted quickly, provided regular updates, and produced an excellent list of highly qualified candidates. we placed the captain and would highly recommend her and bespoke crew., tom benson - director - seymour yachts, i am very impressed with how quickly i was put in touch with a highly suitable candidate through bespoke crew. the whole process was professional, extremely quick and efficient. i look forward to using bespoke crew in the future., doug pender - captain, the best crew agency i’ve been in contact with. i can’t thank frankie enough for landing me such an unreal job, james gordon - deckhand, professional and timely crew services delivered with a smile. thank you bespoke crew for helping me find the right job., heinz schneider-waterberg - bosun, claire from bespoke crew was amazing every step of the way when placing me on my next yacht. attentive, empathetic, and supportive, i couldn't have asked for anyone better. she went the extra mile in calling me out of her work hours to check-in too i can't recommend her enough. thank you so much claire, harriet simmonds - stewardess, * appreciation post * for sophie at bespoke crew, who has been so kind, professional, and invested in matching me with a wonderful new crew. sophie, thank you for checking in with me every step of the way, making me feel supported in taking the next step on my journey. thank you for genuinely listening to what i wanted and playing pro matchmaker. to anyone reading, i recommend getting in touch with soph when you are ready to find that job you were hoping for., jeannie griessel - chief stewardess, 11/10 recommend getting in touch with claire from bespoke crew. she is always friendly, making time for check-ins and updating me on applications. these little things go such a long way. thank you for your fantastic support, advice, and never being too busy to answer all my questions., juanita carmen olsen - stewardess, frankie from bespoke crew was amazing and efficient to work with frankie landed me a job within a couple of hours after applying had a great experience. 10/10 would recommend bespoke., jaryd robertson - deckhand, a huge shoutout to claire from the bespoke crew recruitment team for assisting me in landing my dream job a huge thank you for continuously checking in on me and for having such a high drive for work ethic. great communication skills and professionalism as well. i highly recommend bespoke crew and specifically claire for any yachties new or old to the industry, chane van rooysen - stewardess, are you crewpass approved.

Bespoke Crew has teamed up with CrewPass to continue to deliver only the best crew members and further ensure the safety and security of those onboard.

CrewPass conducts enhanced criminal background checks and identity verification on all its members to help us place fully vetted crew members.

Please go to www.crewpass.co.uk for more information.

00 44 1202 069663 [email protected]

MLC Candidate Guidance | MLC Certificate

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by Northrop & Johnson

Fort Lauderdale

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Bahamas/Caribbean

Junior Stew

by Crew Network

Mediterranean

by Superyacht Crew UK

El Gouna, Egypt

by Bluewater

by 19 London

Northern Europe

July-August

Housekeeping Stew

Antibes / France

Sole Engineer

by Alba Crew Placements

Chief Officer

Greek Islands and Turkey

Chief Engineer

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by Hill Robinson

Middle East

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Experienced crew in Marquesas available May!

• Primary: Mile building
• Secondary: Delivery Crew
• Nationality: United States
• Location: Malta
• Checked in: 28 minutes ago

Ledmonson : [Marquesas > Indonesia/Australia] [Available in May] [Experienced] [Volunteering] I'm Lake (26) and I've b...

Looking for Sailing oportunities

• Primary: Competent Crew
• Secondary: Mile building
• Nationality: Argentina
• Location: Spain
• Checked in: 33 minutes ago

Nicol david : Hola amigos! I'm interested in finding a position as competent crew,deckhand or 1st mate, delivery crew.. Loo...

Looking for a new experience! Am I the one you’ve been looking for?

• Primary: Friendship
• Secondary: Novice Crew
• Nationality: Canadian
• Location: General (Caribbean)
• Checked in: 39 minutes ago

Monkey22 : Hi My name is Meghann and I love traveling and spontaneous adventures. I’m the type of person that just ...

Looking for a Novice Crew, Racing crew, Voluntary work or Mile building position

• Primary: Novice Crew
• Secondary: Racing crew
• Location: United States
• Checked in: 1 hour ago

Dillett7799 : Hi - I've just joined Crewbay. I'm interested in finding a position as a Novice Crew, Racing crew, Voluntary w...

Looking for a Competent Crew, Friendship or 1st Mate position

• Secondary: Friendship
• Location: Canada

EnriqueMV : Hi I am Enrique - I've just joined Crewbay. I'm interested in finding a position as a Competent Crew, Friendsh...

• Secondary: Medical Staff
• Location: Argentina
• Checked in: 2 hours ago

Wetdoc : I'm cardiologst, living in Buenos aires city. Non-smoker and never alcohol. STCW 95 OK. Divemaster with over 1...

Looking for a Voluntary work position.interested in learning and helping with whatever it takes.And travel on the world

• Position: Voluntary work
• Nationality: Brasil
• Location: Thailand

Jamile Cristiane : hello, my name is jamile and i am 29 years old. and dream of the world. I haver an month experience on board,...

Pacific crossing: Panama to French Polynesia in May - June

• Nationality: Ukrainian
• Location: Panama

Connectkat : I am actively looking for crewing opportunities on a cruising boat heading from Panama to French Polynesia (wi...

Available for Competent Crew…Mile Building….Delivery Crew opportunities…*ln Sardinia 20th May for any opportunities*

• Nationality: British
• Location: United Kingdom
• Checked in: 3 hours ago

Competent Crew : Hi.. I am looking for competent crew…delivery crew opportunities. *I will be available in Sardinia 20th ...

Looking for a Cook/Stew, Novice Crew, Chef or Mechanic/Deckhand position

• Primary: Cook/Stew
• Nationality: American
• Checked in: 4 hours ago

BargeLadBallad : Hi, I'm interested in finding a position as a Cook/Stew, Novice Crew, or Mechanic/Deckhand. I've been voluntee...

Fit, easygoing couple looking for sailing adventures in south Florida and Bahamas

• Nationality: USA
• Checked in: 5 hours ago

WeatheredAndTorn : Currently available. Hello, My wife and I live in Miami and we would be interested in day sailing or tri...

Looking for a Mile building or 1st Mate position

• Secondary: 1st Mate

Ken Ross : Hi - I've just joined Crewbay. I'm interested in finding a position as a Mile building or 1st Mate. I'm lookin...

I am a qualified deckhand looking to join a great crew and embark on an amazing journey on the waves.

• Primary: Deckhand
• Secondary: Competent Crew
• Nationality: Welsh

Ioan.k.g.edmond : Hi! As you can already see my name is Ioan and I'm a qualified deckhand. I am looking to join a great crew and...

Easy going, competent sailor looking to cruise, explore, learn and enjoy

PNWBruce : Hi, I'm located on beautiful Puget Sound, in Washington State. I'm fit, easy going, an ASA certified sailor, r...

Looking for a Novice Crew or Mile building position

• Checked in: 6 hours ago

SandyEggo : I have been sailing for about seven years now. I first learned on a Hobie Getaway in Mission Bay, before branc...

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Here's when you need (and don't need) a passport to cruise.

It's the type of sailing – closed-loop or open-loop – that largely determines whether or not you need a passport to cruise.

Do You Need a Passport for a Cruise?

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A passport isn't always required for cruising.

To determine whether or not you need a passport to cruise, you first need to figure out if the itinerary is closed-loop or open-loop (also known as open-jaw).

Closed-loop cruise: A closed-loop cruise typically doesn't require a passport since it begins and ends in the same U.S. port (though there are some exceptions to this rule).

Example: Royal Caribbean International 's seven-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise stops in several countries – the Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti and Grand Cayman – but the itinerary is considered closed-loop because it starts and ends in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Open-loop cruise: An open-loop cruise begins in one U.S. port and ends in a different U.S. port.

Example: Carnival Cruise Line 's 16-day Panama Canal from Seattle itinerary is not considered closed-loop because it departs from Seattle and completes its journey in New Orleans.

All of the above regulations have been determined by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: a plan by the departments of State and Homeland Security that determines which documents are acceptable for proving identity and citizenship when entering the United States.

Where to cruise without a passport

There are several destinations where you can cruise without a passport on a closed-loop sailing. They include the following:

• The Bahamas

When looking at cruises to these locations, be mindful of the home ports. The Bahamas, Mexico, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Canada are all foreign ports, which means they only qualify for the passport exception if they are a stop along your cruise itinerary . If the cruise originates in any of these countries, it is likely you will need a passport.

Since Alaska, Hawaii and New England are all U.S. destinations, any closed-loop routes departing from these locations will not require a passport. However, keep in mind that it can be hard to find closed-loop cruises originating in Hawaii or Alaska.

To find closed-loop itineraries for a Hawaiian voyage or Alaskan cruise , try searching for sailings departing from major cities on the West Coast, like Seattle or Los Angeles . By contrast, quite a few closed-loop cruises leave from New England ports, but they are often marketed as Canadian cruises.

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When you need a passport for closed-loop cruises

Some cruise itineraries include foreign ports that require a passport for disembarkation. This is most commonly an issue for travelers on a closed-loop Caribbean cruise. Barbados , Guadeloupe , Haiti, Martinique , St. Barts , and Trinidad and Tobago all require U.S. citizens to present a valid passport to disembark and enter the country, despite WHTI regulations not requiring a passport for these destinations. Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private island , is an exception and does not require a passport despite its location in Haiti.

If your itinerary includes a country requiring a U.S. passport, your cruise line will require you to have the passport at check-in. Note that your passport must not expire within six months of your arrival in a foreign country or else it won't be considered valid for international travel.

Read: The Easiest Way to Renew Your Passport

Acceptable forms of ID

All travelers – U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike – must present documents that show identity and citizenship when entering the United States. A U.S. passport can show both. If you don't have one or don't want to bring one, be aware that you may need to present more than one document.

U.S. citizens 16 and older

If you're a U.S. citizen age 16 or older sailing on a closed-loop cruise without your passport, you will need a government-issued photo ID like a driver's license. In addition, you must present a document that proves your U.S. citizenship. These include:

• Passport card
• State-issued enhanced driver's license (EDL)
• Government-issued birth certificate
• Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST)
• American Indian Card (Form I-872) or Enhanced Tribal ID Card

The Trusted Traveler Programs are risk-based programs to facilitate the entry of travelers who have been vetted and preapproved. Most of these programs will provide you with a machine-readable card that allows you to pass through border checkpoints quickly. Keep in mind, some of these IDs are only available to travelers 16 and older.

Read: TSA Precheck vs. Global Entry

U.S. citizens younger than 16

U.S. citizens younger than 16 are only required to present proof of citizenship, such as one of the following documents:

• Original, notarized or certified copy of their government-issued birth certificate
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by U.S. Department of State
• Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Read: How to Get a Passport for Kids

Non-U.S. citizens

If you are a lawful permanent resident (or LPR) of the United States, you are required to present a permanent resident card or other valid evidence of permanent residence status.

Non-U.S. citizens, with the exception of Canadians and Mexicans, are not subject to passport exceptions, so a valid passport will need to be provided. Canadian citizens can present a valid passport, Enhanced Driver's License or Trusted Traveler Program card. Mexican citizens must present a passport with a visa or a Border Crossing Card.

Unacceptable forms of ID

While most common forms of identification are accepted, there are a few exceptions. U.S. military identification cards and U.S. Merchant Mariner documents are valid forms of identification, but only when traveling on official orders or in conjunction with official maritime business, so it is unlikely they will be accepted when traveling on a cruise.

Here are some other documents that will not be accepted as proof of citizenship:

• Voter registration cards
• Social Security cards
• Baptismal papers
• Hospital certificates of birth (for anyone older than a newborn)

It is important to note that many of the permitted forms of identification, such as a passport card or EDL, are only accepted at land and sea border crossings. Unforeseen circumstances, such as a medical air evacuation, may cause you to return to the U.S. by air travel. In this case, these documents won't be accepted when you try to reenter at the border crossing.

To avoid extra delays in your return to the U.S. following unforeseen travel complications, the Department of State recommends that everyone taking a cruise from the United States carry a valid passport book in case of emergency.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Erin Vasta has traveled extensively to international destinations, gaining a deep knowledge of travel regulations in the process. Her expertise in this area has saved her family and friends from unnecessary travel delays and ensured stress-free trips through border security in nearly 15 countries. To write this article, Vasta used her international travel experience and research skills.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Passport Holders
• Cruise Packing List: Essentials to Bring
• Safe at Sea: The Best Cruise Insurance

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Carnival Cruise ship rescues 27 Cuban migrants on rickety wooden boat bound for the US: report

A Carnival Cruise ship veered off course to rescue 27 Cuban migrants who were stranded on a rickety wooden boat in the waters between Florida and the island nation, according to a report.

Carnival Paradise had just set sail from Tampa when it spotted the desperate US-bound migrants about 20 miles off the coast of Cuba,

The ship set a course to intercept their decrepit craft with the high-seas rescue taking place around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox News reported.

The cruise ship was bound for Roatan, Honduras when it spotted the Cubans.

All 27 were taken aboard the ship, where they were fed and given medical checkups.

The Carnival crew notified the US Coast Guard and officials in Roatan.

In a statement, Carnival put the number of rescued migrants at 28 and said the ship was still scheduled to arrive in Honduras on Monday but did not provide additional details.

Earlier this month, the US Coast Guard intercepted a ramshackle home-made boat off the Key West shoreline — and shipped all 16 migrants on board back to Cuba, officials said.

The barely-sea-worthy craft — the bow of a small wooden boat with the rest made of foam — was spotted by an eagle-eyed good Samaritan and picked up by the Coast Guard cutter Charles David Jr. on April 7,  according to a press release .

The migrants were taken aboard the cutter and shipped back to Cuba, the Coast Guard said.

Third Disney Cruise Line crew member arrested on child pornography charges

A third Disney Cruise Line crew member was arrested Monday on child pornography charges.

Law enforcement found sexually explicit pictures and videos of minors on two phones belonging to Tirso Neri, who was working on the Disney Dream. The material featured both teenagers and young children, according to an affidavit signed by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Eric Stowers.

Neri, 44, told investigators that he downloaded and bought links for files containing adult pornography via group chats on Telegram and Facebook Messenger. When asked about folders on one of his phones, including one that depicted sexually explicit images of a 17-year-old girl, he said he must have saved it to his phone without looking at it after receiving it in one of the group chats.

A further forensic examination showed that files in the folder had been viewed by the phone’s user, according to the document. Law enforcement also found numerous other folders “titled in the names of various females.”

Neri, who is a citizen of the Philippines, is charged with transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

“In accordance with our zero-tolerance policy for this kind of alleged behavior, this individual is no longer with the company,” the cruise line told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. An attorney listed for Neri declined to comment.

Sexual assault on cruises: Reported incidents rose last year, according to federal data

The news comes after two other Disney Cruise Line crew members were arrested on child pornography charges in January. A cruise ship dancer was arrested on similar charges earlier this month, but law enforcement did not specify what ship he was working on.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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At Least 2 Are Stabbed on a Party Boat in Brooklyn

Three people were hospitalized, including a man who was struck in the head with a bottle, and more than 1,000 passengers were evacuated, the authorities said.

By Erin Nolan and Eliza Fawcett

Two men were stabbed and another was hit in the head with a bottle on a crowded party boat in Brooklyn on Saturday evening, the authorities said.

The men were hospitalized with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, police and fire officials said.

The police said the attacks forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 passengers from the boat, a cruise ship called the Cornucopia Majesty , which was docked at Pier 4 at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

A 32-year-old man was stabbed in the torso, a 40-year-old man was stabbed several times in the chest and abdomen, and a 28-year-old man was hit in the head with a bottle, the police said. All three men were taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn.

The stabbings happened just after 5 p.m., the police said. No arrests had been made as of Saturday night, and it was unclear how many attackers had been involved.

The police said they believed that a dispute had escalated into a physical altercation, but that the events leading up to the stabbings were still under investigation.

Just before 8 p.m., the group that organized the party, BYFAR Entertainment, posted a statement to social media .

“Unfortunately, a crime scene developed by the pier, which has caused the postponement of the night event,” the company said. “We will have updates on a later date so just hold on tight with us while we sort everything out. BYFAR Entertainment has always been a beacon of safe events in New York City and this rare occurrence has never been the norm with us.”

In the hours before the fight, the Cornucopia Majesty had hosted a party .

Passengers said in interviews that they had enjoyed dancing, eating and drinking rum aboard the ship, but by early evening, they were standing confused on the pier, surrounded by police cruisers and ambulances.

Glendon Thomas, 29, a resident of New Jersey, said he and several friends realized a fight had broken out on the ship only after they disembarked.

“I saw a guy laying on his friend,” he said, adding that the friend appeared to have a wound on his chest.

Kevaun Whitely, who lives in Brooklyn, said the fight had broken out as a large crowd of rowdy partygoers — many of whom had been drinking alcohol — attempted to disembark through the same door.

“It was like a stampede,” Mr. Whitely, 27, said.

The police kept Mr. Whitely and several other people on board the ship for hours as they checked identification, he said.

“I’m glad we got out safe,” he said, adding, “I hope nobody passed away from all this craziness.”

Erin Nolan is a reporter covering New York City and the metropolitan region. She is a member of the 2023-24 Times Fellowship class. Email her at [email protected] . More about Erin Nolan

Eliza Fawcett is a reporter for the National desk and a member of the 2022-2023 New York Times fellowship class. More about Eliza Fawcett

Pregnant woman airlifted from Disney cruise ship

The woman was taken to a hospital in Puerto Rico where she received treatment.

Wednesday 17 April 2024 20:59, UK

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The US Coast Guard has released dramatic footage of the moment a pregnant woman was airlifted from a Disney cruise ship after suffering "health complications".

A MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter was filmed landing on the bow of the Disney Fantasy ship that was sailing 180 miles northwest of Aguadilla in Puerto Rico .

The coastguard said in a statement: "The medevac patient was a 35-year-old pregnant woman, US citizen, who experienced health complications and required a higher level of medical care ashore."

In a video shared on social media, a member of the helicopter crew is seen attaching the stretcher to a rope which is then hoisted, lifting the passenger into the aircraft.

The pregnant passenger was taken to Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, where emergency service personnel were waiting, the US Coast Guard said.

She was later transported to the Centro Medico Hospital to receive treatment.

"Our crew was able to quickly, safely, and efficiently execute a long-range medevac for the patient to receive the higher level of care she required," Lieutenant Commander Todd Stephens said.

"This case demonstrates the value of good crew resource management and the capabilities of our Jayhawk helicopter."

Ensign Michael Riccio, the coastguard's leader for the case, added: "We are glad everything came together to help this passenger."

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He added: "The competency displayed by the Disney Fantasy crew and the coastguard personnel and units involved made all the difference."

The Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.

It operates five ships that sail across the globe, stopping at destinations in Europe, Australia, Alaska and the Bahamas - including the company's own private island Castaway Cay.

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